Who Were the Scotti? How Irish Gaels Helped Shape Scotland

The Scotti were Gaels first associated mainly with Ireland. Learn how Dál Riata and the changing name Scotia helped shape Scotland.
Browse Irish Scottish Roots articles on heritage travel, genealogy, castles, clans, festivals, mining history, rail routes, and ancestral places.

The Scotti were Gaels first associated mainly with Ireland. Learn how Dál Riata and the changing name Scotia helped shape Scotland.

On the outer edge of the Dingle Peninsula, cashel Murphy sits above the road like a ring of stone watching the Atlantic. At first glance it looks simple: a circular enclosure, scattered beehive huts, and a sweep of sea below.…

You step out of the car into quiet Clare air, and there it is in front of you. The ruined church of Dysert O’ Dea Monastery rises out of a green graveyard. It is surrounded by Celtic headstones and low…

Explore six unusual places in Scotland, from Electric Brae and Fingal’s Cave to Munlochy Clootie Well, Fairy Glen, the Italian Chapel, and Fyvie Castle. Learn what is documented, what belongs to folklore, and what visitors should check before traveling.

You arrive at the Arigna Mining Experience as a visitor. You have a ticket in your hand and curiosity in your eyes. The miners came as boys and men, with picks, shovels, and lunch tins. You step into an attraction…

You stand on a windy Donegal hilltop. The stone ring of Grianán of Aileach is wrapped around you like an ancient crown. Below, Lough Swilly glitters on one side. Lough Foyle shimmers on the other. Derry and the Inishowen Peninsula…

Sean’s Bar in Athlone is recognized for its claim to be Ireland’s oldest pub. Examine what its Guinness certificate, building evidence, local tradition and surviving historic features actually establish.

You already play pickleball at home. Now you are wondering what Irish pickleball looks like when you land in Dublin or drive into the west. Can you actually find a court, meet locals, and still fit in heritage sightseeing? The…

Galway on a budget is not only possible. It is a smart way to see a big slice of the west of Ireland. You can do this without draining your travel fund. You stay in one lively, walkable city. Then,…